2025.05.06 Jenks CC / JPWA Meeting 6PM

This meeting covered a range of important topics for the city, including community updates, financial reports, and future development plans. Key discussions involved the city's audit, a new development project, and an economic development strategy for the downtown area. The council also welcomed new staff members and discussed ongoing community initiatives.

Key Takeaways

• Community Engagement: The meeting featured updates from local churches and highlighted the importance of community involvement.
• Financial Health: The city's annual audit report was presented, showing a positive financial standing.
• Development Projects: Discussions included the "Project Oak" term sheet and a comprehensive economic development report for the downtown area.
• Staff Introductions: New city employees were introduced, including an animal control officer and the new city engineer.
• Public Input: The council opened the floor for public comments, emphasizing transparency and community feedback.

Welcoming New Faces and Community Updates

The evening began with the formal call of the role and a welcome to Sam, who shared insights into his church's ministry and the upcoming Myanmar World Cup, a significant cultural and sporting event. Mayor Cory Box highlighted the tournament's scale and encouraged local business support.

Sam, representing a large Burmese church in Tulsa, spoke about his congregation's growth and community involvement. He shared his personal journey, including graduating from ORU and pursuing a master's degree, while also mentioning the upcoming soccer tournament expected to draw around a thousand people.

Animal Welfare and City Engineering

The meeting also introduced Morgan McDaniel, a new animal control officer, along with his well-behaved puppy, Alta. The team currently has five dogs available for adoption, all under a year and a half old, with no adoption fees.

Anthony Wilkins was introduced as the new city engineer, a Jinx resident who brings extensive experience, having previously worked with the City of Tulsa and collaborated with Jinx on various projects. His appointment was met with enthusiasm, highlighting the city's growing staff.

Financial Review and Development Plans

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the city's fiscal year 2023-2024 audit report. Anne Elfrink, the auditor from Elfrink and Associates, presented an unmodified opinion, indicating that the financial statements were fairly presented. The report detailed the city's financial health, including an increase in net position and healthy fund balances. Key financial highlights included:

• Net Position Growth: The city's total net position increased by $17.7 million, a 10.5% rise from the previous year.
• General Fund Balance: The general fund reported an unassigned fund balance of $4.8 million.
• Capital Assets: Capital asset additions exceeded depreciation by approximately $13.2 million.
• Pension Funds: The police pension fund is fully funded at 101%, while the fire pension fund is funded at 70.85%.

Councilmember Brown raised a point about the transparency of audit exit conferences, suggesting greater council involvement in the future.

Project Oak and Downtown Development

The council reviewed the term sheet for "Project Oak," a master development plan for TIFF Area C within the Jinx River Entertainment District. Oak Properties LLC plans a mixed-use development including retail, athletics, entertainment, dining, and residential units, with an estimated investment of $250 million. This term sheet serves as guidance for a more formal development agreement.

Additionally, a presentation on the Jinx Downtown Master Plan by Hunden Partners and Beck Design outlined strategies to transform the downtown area into a vibrant, mixed-use destination. Key recommendations included:

• Improving Walkability: Enhancing connectivity between the riverfront, downtown, and the outlet mall.
• Mixed-Use Development: Introducing housing, office spaces, and a boutique hotel to increase density and vibrancy.
• Economic Impact: Projections show significant economic benefits, including spending, earnings, job creation, and tax generation over 30 years.

The plan also addressed parking strategies and streetscape improvements, with options for enhancing pedestrian safety and creating more inviting public spaces.

Other Business and Adjournment

The meeting concluded with updates on various city matters, including sales tax collections, the low-water dam project, and the upcoming push-in ceremony for a new rescue apparatus. Council members also shared committee activities, including the Economic Development Committee and the INCOG GO Plan. The council also approved appointments to the General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee and discussed potential legislative impacts on local control.

The Jinx Public Works Authority meeting followed, addressing the consent agenda and declaring the Hive property as surplus, a step towards future development decisions. The meetings adjourned with a focus on continued progress and community development.